Chapter 84: The New Dawn

Every breath was getting harder to take as Finn held onto me for dear life. His body shook as tears ran down his cheeks. He had never broken like this before, not even when his entire family was taken.

Then again… this is your second go at this. I'm sorry, Finn. I'm so sorry.

"No, please… Sylvia, please don't go. Please... I'm begging you, don't leave me." He sobbed, holding onto me.

"I-I love... y-you." I simpered, wanting to reach for his cheek.

However, my hand fell short instead of falling against my chest as I winced, feeling the aches become unbearable.

"And I you! I love you more than anything! Please! Stay with me!" He wept like a small child, coiling his tail around me.

Oh… Finn, I want to stay. I want to live an entire life with you, but… not at the cost of your world. Just because it made you, it's worth saving.

However, words were getting harder to say as I struggled to cuddle myself into his chest.

"F-Finn… l-live a g-good life for me and him." I breathed, struggling to hold onto his battered shirt.

My vision blurred, preventing me from seeing things too clearly. Solas whined, curling up on us and lying his head on my abdomen. All the fighting had halted as those who knew me stood silently around.

"Not without you. I can't live this life without you anymore, Sylvia!" The dragon I had come to adore sobbed as his sister fell to her knees beside him.

"Oh… Finn…" Serah whispered as someone gave her a white coat to cover herself with.

Ah… I want to stay. I really do, but…

No matter how hard I fought, my lids were getting heavier, and every breath was harder. My lungs felt like they were on fire as every breath burned to take. 

"I-I'm s-sorry," I mumbled as all the strength within me waned.

"There may be a way to save her." A distant voice announced, triggering Finn to growl loudly.

"You're the reason she did this! She would've been fine if you hadn't come!" He snarled, lashing out with his words.

His body didn't move a single centimeter away from me. Sadly, I couldn't distinguish who it was as his voice turned into nothing more than a murmur. What felt like electricity jolted through my body, triggering me to cry out.

"Wait, you want to send all the mana she absorbed that mana into there?" My beloved dragon mumbled as he was the only one I could still perceive.

An argument broke out as more voices surrounded me. Their words were hard to follow as I struggled to stay in the world of the living. Yet, my grip was slipping as the tips of my body grew colder.

"I don't care! If it saves her, do it, Soren! Please!" He begged his most hated enemy.

"Only a Dragonheart can do it. You're family… There's a reason why my grandfather wanted your magic for himself." The hero informed him as my consciousness plummeted into the darkness that had come to embrace me.

Before I knew it, I was no longer in the world I clung to hold onto. No, I faced the goddess who had set me on my path when she met me.

"Wow, you did it! You beat my husband in his game!" she clapped her hands.

I narrowed my eyes, sighing from my lips. "Can't I spend my last moments with Finn? Just let me be."

Everything around me was falling apart; I at least wanted to go while listening to his heartbeat.

"Oh, sweetie, I didn't bring you here. You lost your hold on the living world. Now you're waiting for the end to come. Don't worry here; you won't feel pain, just peace before everything goes dark." Serena informed us that she was not moving from where she was.

I shook my head. "I don't want to. Let me feel the pain. Just give me one more second with him, please."

"What are you talking about? The peace of death is what you wanted at the start of this. Now you finally have it." She scoffed, remembering my words when I came into his world.

"Ah… I never wanted it; I just thought it was my only option, but I guess this is where you say, ' Be careful what you wish for.'" Closing my eyes, I shook my head. "So, what will happen when I'm gone?"

Slowly, I began to sink into the dark abyss below me as Serena gazed at me from her golden stump.

She shrugged, "Who knows, they might end up killing each other if Finn doesn't take his own life first. Losing you is like losing the only heart he has left. If you could only feel the agony he's feeling right now."

Her words cut through like a hot knife to butter, yet the sensation that was going through me was making me sluggish.

"Enough, I don't want to hear that," I mumbled, gripping my arms as the frigid sensation triggered my body to shiver.

The water was up to my knees already.

"That boy's most dreaded nightmare is coming true. He was scared to love again because of this. Now he watches you slipping away in his arms while taking his first and only child with you." She announced, prompting me to flare up.

"Enough!" I growled. "You think I wanted this?! This was the only way for all of them to have a chance! I… I… I've always been on borrowed time. So, I knew… this would be how it ends."

Ever since you saved me that night… I…

"You did good, saving a world that didn't do a thing for you. How did you figure it out?" She sighed, shaking her head.

"I… Finn once said the ritual that involves him could kill us both, so I… I figured it meant using him to channel the curse through him while I purified it." I mumbled, shifting my eyes down to my abdomen. "I used our child for that instead of him. Like Serah's magic synergized the curse, Theo helped me dismiss it thanks to his link to his father."

"You gave all your holy magic away while displacing the curse's mana within you to purify it. Clever but self-destructive, no mortal can handle that much magic flowing through their body."

Serah's will had kept the citizens alive while the Saint's magic had turned them into monsters. With the princess finally free, they were also liberated from the chains that held them in this world.

"There isn't a single thing I regret since I did it for the people I love." I simpered. "Now they have a second chance to heal and live free of their curse.

The water was up to my neck, prompting me to gaze at the black sky above us. There were no stars to be seen; only darkness surrounded us in this abyss.

If I could only… see that starry sky with you again, Finn. … don't die or follow me to this cold embrace. Please wait for me to return to you, silly dragon king, I know… I will fight my way to find you again.

In this life or the next, you are…

"You really are a fool, but at the cost of two lives, you saved the world. Not a bad trade at all." She shrugged, getting up from the stump she sat on before taking a few steps towards me.

I sighed softly, "Thank you for giving me this chance and helping me with Evelyn."

Serena stopped before me, kneeling toward me, "I don't know what you mean. I haven't lifted a finger to help you."

"Hah, maybe I was imagining it when Eve's magic failed." I smiled.

A soft hum left her lips. "It was simply too much for her body to sustain."

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. "I can't help but see your husband is missing too."

"Is he? I thought he was doing other things." She countered as I shrugged.

"You're the one who told me to risk it all." I pointed out, sinking more into the abyss.

"Huh… I don't remember anything like that." Slowly, she reached for me before touching my forehead with her index finger. "Good night, Sylvia, Saint of Miracles."

A soft shine came from our connection as the water claimed me, dragging me into the fidgeting depths. It wasn't long before my eyes grew heavy.

Crap… No… I still…I wanted more time with you. Wait… who are you?

My memories became blurrier as everything felt like it was escaping me. I thought of a man I could barely remember anymore.

Why am I fighting to keep my eyes open? I... can't even… Why am I here? Ah… I'm too sleepy to care.

Closing my eyes, I slowly drifted into a cold slumber before a sudden warmth caused my eyes to snap open again. In my depths, tiny blue orbs of radiant energy shimmered brightly before me.

Argh… Could you leave me alone? I'm too tired.

Shifting away from them, I tried to close my eyes again, only for more orbs to shine brighter than before. It caused my sight to break open again as I winced at their radiance.

Why can't you just leave me be?

Hesitantly, I reached out for one, only for a familiar voice to echo within me.

"Hey! This isn't fair! We can't give up now! If this is what must be done, then let's do it! I want to love her as much as you do!" Serah declared as the orb soon faded.

"Sylvia brought back the dead; that feat alone makes it so we can't fail her! If no one else falls, she has no reason to do so! Concentrate; this won't be pleasant." Soren's voice echoed as many more spheres of light sprouted around me.

The dimmed memories were stirring as messages of those who clung to my existence didn't let me go.

Oh… you… you are…

"No, no! My lady, you can't leave! Who will I serve if you aren't here? Our lord will become too gloomy again! Please bring his smile back! Yes, yes?" Nyla declared as I felt her hand touch my shoulder.

It left behind a shining mark within the shadows I found myself in.

"Shit! Where do you think you're going, shrimp? You must come back here and let me stuff you until I run out of recipes. It's the only way I can ever thank you for saving us. Plus… You can't take him with you." Gael's voice echoed around me as the picture became more evident.

The incubus stood by the doors of the crown room as the elven girl who had been torn to shreds ran to Soren's side whole. In that split moment, the scene changed to the village outside the Dragonheart castle.

"My god… you did it, Sylvia. Yet… why do I feel so sad seeing this? It's like you're saying goodbye. No… you still have much to learn and much to grow. It's too early for your story to end. The life in you depends on you, too!" Rizak grasped his chest, revealing the man behind the beast.

All his feathers had fallen, leaving remnants of who he used to be exposed. Behind him was a man with rodent ears and a tail I had never seen before, who struggled to escape the ruined house they stood by.

"Gah! Brother, you're moving too fast! I can't believe I lost everything! These humans know no bounds!" He huffed, stopping by the owl before his red eyes opened wide. "What is that?"

The light I had unleashed reached the celestial bodies above, allowing everyone to see it no matter how far away they were. Again, the scenery snapped to the castle's courtyard, where two others struggled with the changes.

"What the fuck? Was that Sylvia? The curse is gone; I feel different! It's like the fog lifted, and I'm so much lighter." Vorex gazed at his hands with puzzled eyes.

"Damn, we need to thank her. Our future queen made this happen; I'm sure of it. This warmth is hers alone." Vabaru smiled, gazing at the same light everyone else couldn't turn away.

From there, it snapped toward the inside of the castle, where Astred appeared bewildered and at a loss for words. She studied her hands as before; she was Jasper, and the young boy had fallen off the roof.

"What? I thought I was dead, but I'm alive?" Astred mumbled, touching her chest.

On there, her shirt had a hole, yet her skin was whole. Jasper dropped his daggers on the ground as Lloyd released his sword and shield.

"For some reason, our sigils stopped working." The boy huffed, narrowing his eyes at the demon before him.

"We need to retreat now." Jasper grabbed the boy's arm as other fallen humans stood up, too.

"Ah… I see; you did this, didn't you, Sylvia?" Astred mumbled, shifting her eyes toward them. "Go! There will be no more deaths today! Our queen made this happen; don't let her gift go to waste with more bloodshed!"

Again, the scenery changed to a place far away from the castle. I had never seen it before. Sebastian was kneeling, gazing at the light as humans ran toward the open vortex.

"Wow, the little girl lifted the curse, and not only that, she took the will to fight out of all of us." He chuckled, shaking his head.

Around him were the ruins of a farm.

"Is it okay to let them go like this? The hex that affects us doesn't seem dangerous to go against, but I don't have the will to stop them right now." A female orc with blue eyes and blond hair shifted her eyes to the escaping humans.

"Oh, let them go. If anything, we can gather them again. To use a calming spell that powerful, she… Her child will surely lead us into a bright future." Sebastian smirked, focusing on the silvery light rivaling the stars.

"You think so, my lord?" She asked, meeting his gaze.

"Shit, I need to show a little more appreciation when I next see her. I don't want to be left behind now." The orc chuckled, standing up from where he was before heading towards where the light shone.

Behind him was the gorgon who had gone to help him defend his farms. Not all of them were destroyed, as some had survived the raid.

"The humans are retreating. All those who died in this battle are coming back. Is that because of our lord's saint? Did she do this? How can anyone bring the dead back?" Leviera questioned, shaking her head. "This… is nothing more than a miracle."

After being basked in my light, no one had any more will to fight.

"Fuck, that light! No, it can't be! We need to retreat into the castle now!" Brielle commanded all the fellows that were with her at the castle gates.

Destruction was everywhere one's eyes landed on.

"Hey, you can't leave us now! Don't you dare leave us now! You hear me?!" The she-wolf howled, running into the castle.

From there, it snapped back into the village where a familiar bear and spider were.

"Jack! Are we alive? How?" Phoebe asked, gazing at her hands as there was a soft shimmer left in them.

Like everyone else, her body was more humanoid than before, but there were still remnants of the beast she used to be. The curse permanently changed everyone; however, the cleansing spell revealed their humanoid characteristics.

"I don't know, Phoebe, but this is the first time I've ever felt peace in a long time. We should ensure everyone is okay before making our way to the castle. That light… We need to make sure everyone there is okay, too!" The bear, who was no longer a beast but a man with fluffy ears and a tail, announced, walking out to help those in need.

"Wait! You can go out like that! You're naked!" Pheobe chased after him.

From there, I found myself back in the castle's throne room, which no longer had a roof as the energy erupted from there took it. Finn held me in his arms as Solas remained curled around us. Everything else was blurry.

Who… are…

"Sylvia, I know you didn't want me to go with you, but I won't let you go alone. I can't, and I love you too much." Solas wagged his tail, slowly disappearing from the living world, too.

"Hey, Sparks, can you hear me? My mind has been so clear for the first time since this started. I love you more than I know what to do with myself. Please come back. I already told you I can't do this life without you anymore." Finn begged, holding my motionless body in his arms.

His eyes were full of affection as he brought me closer to his lips before meeting with my colorless ones. Above him, something brighter than the sun shone on everyone in the crown room.

You… I know you.

I reached for him, only for my scenery to change again into a white space. In front of me was a woman I had never met. Her brown locks waved behind as her green gaze locked with mine, and her lips curled upward.

"Sometimes all you must do is reach out, and someone will help you, my dearest girl." She smiled, grabbing onto my cheeks.

Instinctively, tears ran down my cheeks, and she quickly wiped them away.

"Huh? Who are you? Why do I…" I asked, gripping her arms, which radiated with a warmth that heated my core.

All of these people were important to me, yet I didn't understand why I couldn't remember them.

"Oh, I'm no one important. Just know I never once regretted giving birth to you. I knew you would find your place eventually. Now go on. They're all waiting for you and him." She smiled, touching my abdomen as a white light shimmered within me.

In that instant, my memories snapped together as I shook my head.

"Mom?" I mumbled before the water around me got warmer with every second.

"Go on, this isn't your time. You still have an entire life to enjoy." Thea simpered as the light soon became too blind, melting everything around me.

"Is it too late? Have I lost her?" Finn's voice was the first thing I heard.

It was the most broken I had ever heard him go.

"The gate's closing. I'm sorry, I don't know what else we can do. The damage might be too much for her to handle." Soren sighed, holding his crying companion.

"Soren! Soren!" The elf mumbled in her breath.

"No! Her body was so warm last night. She can't be gone!" Finn broke, holding me tighter.

"Finn! Please, hold on to hope. It may take a bit for it to hold." Serah hugged him from behind.

When I opened my eyes, I quickly wince at the sudden light that rushed into them.

"When has hope ever helped us?" My beloved dragon asked, a voice devoid of everything that made him whole.

Slowly, I reached up to his cheek, triggering him to set his eyes on me. Tears beamed down his cheeks instantly, grabbing the hand that touched him.

"I... didn't know you were such an ugly crier." I simpered, feeling sore but alive.

"Sylvia!" He sobbed, holding me tightly.

The moment was cut short with the appearance of someone I had come to know.

"Saint of miracles, you saved everyone. But for how long?" Serena suddenly appeared where the ball of light was as it dimmed.

"What the fuck?" Finn huffed, holding me closer.

Whatever she had to say was probably nothing good, yet she was intent on us hearing it. After all, it would set the new world we were running towards.